Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-07
XIX. CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, January 6, 1887.
senate.

Mr.. Edmunds, from the Committee on
Foreign Relations, reported the bill to in.
corporate the Maritime Canal Company OF
Nicaragua. Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Henderson brought before the Sem
ate the case OF q claim against Mexico for
the kiIlingoi Captain Emmett Crawford lin
command OF United States troops in pur-
suit OF Geronimo) by Mexican troops, in
Mexico, in January, 1856, stating that a
slroHger and more urgent demand for an
indemnity should be made, and introducing
bill for the relief Of Captain Crawford's
heirs. The bill was referred.
The Senate took up the bin giving PEN
sion Of $4,000 year to Mary $. Logan,
widow OF John A. Logan, as maiorgeneral
OF volunteers.
Mr.. Mitchell stated that the bill proposed
20 do precisely what was done for the WI
dows OF General Hancock and General
Thomas.
Mr.. Vest offered an amendment fixing the
pension Of the widow OF General Francis
Il. Blair at $4,000 year, asserting that If
the widow and family of any man were 10
be paid out of the Treasury in proportion
10 his public service, u was the widow and
family OF Francis L. Blair.
At the request OF Mr.. Hawley and other
senators he withdrew the amendment, and
then the bill was passed without division.
Dir. Vest thereupon introduced bill in
creasing the pension Of Mrs. Apollina
Blair from $50 q month 10 g 900 year,
and, at his request, the bill was immediate
~ considered and passed.
On motion OF Mr. Edmunds, the bill to
carry into effect the treaty with China for
the suppression Of opium traffic was taken
up and passed without division.
The Seuate then resumed the consdera-
ton OF the interstate commerce bill, and
Mr.. Plat continued his argument. He
SAID IL was not necessary TO apologize for the
time consumed, or to be consumed, by HIM
in this discussion, because there never had
been probably In the history OF this Gov.
eminent bill under consideration that
would inevitably affect, either directly or
remotely, such great financial and indus
trial interests as this bill. 1t would reach
every hamlet. every industry. every labor
ing man, and every laboring mans family
in use within its effects, either OF evil or OF
good. lie claimed that the bill was in the
direction of forcing consolidation OF rail-
read companies, and SAID some railroad-men
believed in that as the best outcome OF
the railroad problem. No truer sentence
had ever been uttered than that where CON-
blnalion Is possible competition Is Impossi.
bic. This bill left open and invited the
worst Kind Of combnati0n-the consolida-
ton OF railroad corporate capital. What
were railroads TO do il prohibited from
making pooling arrangements Expert
ence taught that the old rate wars would
begin again, aud the end OF 1t would be las
IL always had BEEN consolidation. The
mOnopolies OF this country had been
built ON the graves OF weak competi-
tors. The bill invited grand monopoly
OF railroad capital in this country, which
would be built on the graves OF railroads
that are not able 10 stand in competition.
That railroad monopoly would be the mas
ter OF the people. He believed 1t better 10
have the business kept in great many
hands than to have Il consolidated. lie be-
heyed Il better to let little eountry-stores
live than 10 build up great mercantile es-
Adjustments at their expense. lie be-
licyed il better 10 let weak railroads live
than 10 build up one magnificent railroad
corporation that would occupy TO the rail
road business OF the country the same po-
siiion as the Western Union Telegraph
Company bears TO the telegraph business
OF the country.
Mr.. Morgan stated the reason which would
influence his vote against the bill. He
was not content with II In respect Of its
practical effect on the people OF his
own state. Alabama was at the farther
southern margin OF the United States. The
marketS In which her people bought their
dry goods and a large part Of their groceries
were at the far North and East, and there
was broad intervening area between them.
The markets in which they bought their
food.supplies Chicago, 81. Louis. and Cin-
einDaii- were also far distant from Ala
bama. The markets In which they sold
their products were all distant. They had
n vast tract OF country 10 cross In getting
either to the market OF purchase or the
market OF sale; 10 that he thought that any
bin which forced railroad companies TO
raise their charges on fresghts for long
hsuls would be necessarily inimical to the
best interests Of bis State. That practical
statement OF The reasons why be opposed
the bin would be quite sufficient, he said,
10 Justify him 10 the course be felt COM
PEELED 70 take toward Il, but he had other
reasons. He then proceeded 10 argue
that the States were perfectly com.
petent 10 deal with this subject, and
that the interference OF the Federal
Government would lead TO stsIl further
insaslons Until the managemento Of railroads
would eventually become the most absorb
INK business Of Congress. lie dreaded 20
enter on thai 6eids end would net % 90